Vancouver Confidential

by John Douglas Belshaw (Editor), Tom Carter (Contributor), Jason Vanderhill (Contributor)

Vancouver Confidential is a collaboration of artists and writers who plumb the shadows of civic memory looking for the stories that don’t fit into mainstream narratives. We honour the chorus line behind the star performer, the mug in the mugshot, the victim in the murder, the teens in the gang, and the “slum” in the path of the bulldozer. By focusing on the stories of the common people rather than community leaders and headliners, Vancouver Confidential shines a light on the lives of Vancouverites that have for so long been ignored.

Contributors:
Tom Carter on Vancouver’s Entertainment Czars; Aaron Chapman on wartime fears in Vancouver during WWII, and the sins of Alderman Halford Wilson; Jesse Donaldson explores the case of the Lovers’ Lane Marauder, James Johnstone revisits old Strathcona through the eyes of long-time resident Lucille Mars; Lani Russwurm investigates the “Red Shadows” and the 1930s communist scare with a spy’s eye view of Vancouver; Eve Lazarus probes the 1928 Lennie Commission into police corruption and all of its ensuing ramifications; Diane Purvey addresses the strange case of Viola Woolridge and how the mores and legal system of 1947 resulted in Viola (or at least her character) being put on trial for her own murder; Catherine Rose takes us back to the Dirty ’30s and shines a light on the “unholy trinity” of Police Chief John Cameron and gangsters Joe Celona and Shue Moy; Rosanne Sia looks at a 1931 Pender Street café murder/suicide that resulted in a ban on the hiring of white waitresses in Chinatown restaurants; Jason Vanderhill reveals the little-known story of Joseph Kennedy Ltd. and the liquor interest in 1920s Vancouver; Stevie Wilson on the staggering unemployment, relief camps, and Hobo Jungles of 1931; Will Woods on Mayor Gerry McGeer’s transformation from iron moulder and labour activist to controversial mayor and reader of the Riot Act; Terry Watada on Etsuji Morii, the “Al Capone of the Japanese community,” and the Black Dragon Society of Japantown and John Belshaw pays triubute to early Vancouver street photography and the work of James Crookall.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Crime

240 pages, Paperback

First published July 21, 2014

Reviews

[George Ilsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of essays exploring the history of Vancouver, British Columbia, through the lens of crime, scandal, corruption, and people. Lots of details, lots of photos. Unsolved murders, dirty cops, opportunistic politicians, neighborhood heroes, jobless hoboes, left wing agitators, vaudeville performers, Japanese bodyguards and Chinese gambling dens. Prostitution, speakeasies, and corruption commissions.

The history of Vancouver is one of vice — perhaps that is true of most cities, but is certainly true of a frontier town which was a recreational destination of so many mariners, fishermen, foresters, miners, and other resource workers.

[Jonathan Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not the straightforward, chronological history of Vancouver that I was expecting. Instead, it turned out to be a series of short essays that were snapshots of Vancouver before the 60s.

The stories don't directly deal with earthshaking events; they're (mostly) portraits of people that have shaped the city into what it is but whose names have largely been forgotten.

Give this book a shot. It'll give you a renewed appreciation of Vancouver.

[audsnends · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it impossible to continue to read this book because of the small text. I wear reading glasses yes, but have never had to set aside a book because the text was too small. And captions under the photos and references was even smaller. It's unfortunate as my grandparents lived in Vancouver during this period. Even I recall some of the places from my teens.

[Christina Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Vancouver Confidential,” edited by John Belshaw, is a delightful anthology of some of Vancouver’s more colourful characters and infamous events and stories. Covering predominantly the 30s through the 50s, Belshaw’s panel presents a diverse array of cocktail creators, Vaudevillian impresarios, Japanese gang connections, Vancouver mobsters, police corruption, corrupt officials, class and race divisions through the Great Depression, classic murders, and more. An enjoyable read with great storytelling. If you’ve lived in Vancouver, this is a great read to see a very different side from the Vancouver of today.

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vancouver is lucky to have a crop of authors and historians who are delving into the city's "confidential" history. While none of the stories will blow you away, the roster of writers paint a vivid picture of an often-forgotten Vancouver, especially with so many changes in recent years.

[Lance · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy most history texts about my beautiful City. I found these essays interesting and enjoyed the mixtures of some of the essays on prominent members of the City such as Mayors and Police Chiefs mixed with other stories of less known personalities.

[Steven W Oatway · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read with so many stories by different authors. Essential for the Vancouver Historian

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't finish most of these stories. A lot of them were pretty boring. They small type made it difficult to read so I was less inclined to try to finish the stories that didn't grip me. Glad I got it from the library.

[Tracee · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF text too small (yes, I have eye issues) but looks jam-packed full of old stories. Not as good as the book we were looking for, though.